Cutter rings for dicer-slicer



Nov. 9, 1965 5. J. POPEIL CUTTER RINGS FOR DICER-SLICER Original Filed June 28, 1965 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 3,216,474 CUTTER RKNGS FOR DICER-SLKCER Samuel Joseph Popeil, 2921) N. Commonwealth Ave, @hicago, 111. Original application June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 291,343. Divided and this application Sept. 3, 1964, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (c1. 146-78) The present invention relates to a variable cut dicerslicer which finds its utility in the preparation of raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, and other foods. More particularly, the present invention relates to cutter rings therefor, constructed in a manner such that a unique interrelationship is provided between the rings whereby they may be adjustably secured in a wide variety of relationships to provide various types of cuts.

This application is a division of continuationin-part application Ser. No. 291,343, filed June 28, 1963, of previously filed patent applications Ser. No. 847,743, filed October 21, 1959, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 38,689, filed June 6, 1960, now US. Patent No. 3,112,781, issued December 3, 1963.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a variable cut dicer-slicer having cutter rings with an interlock mechanism which positively correlates the relationship between one cutter ring and another cutter ring to give the wide variety of cuts desired.

It is a further object to provide a variable cut dicerslicer having means to prevent breaking of the blades by an improper mesh with the pusher if the exact proper adjustment has not been made.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of an illustrative embodiment proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, shown for illustrative purposes, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view taken from an elevated location of an illustrative dicer-slicer;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cutter rings;

FIGURE 3 is a partially broken, partially exploded, perspective View of the bottom cutter ring illustrating the insertion of the interlock spring; and

FIGURE 4 is a section view of the interlock and spring taken along section 44 of FIG. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

In FIG. 1, a variable cut dicer-slicer is shown having a base 11 which is provided with a pusher top portion 12 which reciprocates axially toward a cutter ring assembly 14 which is housed in the base 11 and in a plane perpendicular with that or" the motion of the pusher portion 12. The cutter ring assembly 14 contemplates two cutter rings 15, 16 (FIG. 2) with one of the cutter rings (here shown as top cutter ring 15) radially adjustable with relationship to the other (here shown as bottom cutter ring 16). The cutter rings 15, 16, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, have a safety interlock mechanism which accomplishes the two-fold purpose of indexing the top cutter ring to the proper location for various cuts and preventing, in conjunction with a stop lug formed integrally with the pusher top portion 12, the pusher top portion 12 from fully engaging the cutter blades in interfit relationship unless the proper adjustment has first been made. The pusher top portion 12 is pivotally connected to the base 11 in such a manner that at the initial portion of the downstroke the pusher top portion 12 can be tilted rearwardly to provide visual inspection and accurate location of the foodstuffs to be cut by the cutter ring assembly 14 prior to use. Thereafter, the pusher top portion 12 is pivoted over into the cutting position and pushed downwardly while out of the way of any fingers.

The pusher top portion 12 is generally rectangular in nature having a central head portion 19 flanked by a pair of hand holds 20. The hand holds 20 are rectangular in nature and permit the operator, upon actuating the unit, to place the thumb of each hand atop each hand hold, or the heel of the hand, and press the pusher top portion 12 downwardly to thrust foodstuff through the cutter ring assembly 14. The parallel guides 22 are firmly secured at their upper portions to the base of the central head portion 19. Means not shown are provided to confine the downward stroke of the central head portion 19 when depressed by the operator.

The cutter ring assembly 14 comprises a top cutter ring 15 and a bottom ring 16, each of which is circular in shape and has a convoluted blade assembly 24 and 25, respectively. The method of constructing and assembling the cutter rings 15, 16 is explained in detail in the US. Patent 3,112,781 and its related continuation-in-part application Ser. No. 291,343. Briefly, however, each of the cutter rings 15, 16, as may be best seen by observing the bottom ring 16 in FIG. 2, has a plurality of blade-mounting pins 26 adjacent its central open portion which are defined by semi-circular blade slots 28. The pins 26 are positioned in opposed staggered relationship so that the convolutions of the blade assemblies, when the curved end portions thereof are placed within the blade slots 28 define a plurality of individual parallel blade portions 30. A blade-end mounting slot 32 is provided at positions flanking the blade-mounting pins 26. The ends of the blade are preferably finished with a knurl, however, a plurality of notches or a crimp may be used in lieu thereof. The knurl is fitted within the slot 32 and a metal wedge 34 is then driven into the slot 32 and dcformingly engages the knurl whereby the ends of the blade assembly are secured to the ring.

A circular support portion, generally indicated by the reference number 21, formed at the upper end of base 11, and provided with a central open area has a stepped shoulder (not shown) which receives and holds the cutter ring assembly 14. The bottom ring 16 is provided with ofl'set locking lugs (not shown) which insure proper orientation through their engagement with locking slots (not shown) formed in the peripheral edge of the circular support portion 21.

The top cutter ring 15 is provided with numbered turning tabs 35 in three separate positions, and then atop ring safety interlock 36 which is wider than the adjusting tabs 35. An offset lug 17 (FIG. 1) extends from the lower portion of the pusher head 12, and is offset sufiiciently so that it passes beyond the numbered indexing tabs 35 when the pusher head 12 is depressed, but engages the lateral portion of the safety interlock 36 when depressed.

As indicated above and as fully explained in the abovernentioned US. Patent 3,112,781 and its related continuation-in-part application Ser. No. 291,343, a wide variety of relationships between the top cutter ring 15 and the bottom cutter ring 16 is contemplated, so that various food cuts may be achieved with the cutter ring assembly 14. In the above-mentioned patent, there is tabulated a listing of the wide variety of types of cuts and work which can be performed with the dicer-slicer 10, with the cutter rings positioned as indicated. Reference may be had to this listing for a better understanding of the versatility of the dicer-slicer 10.

In order to effectuate this wide variety of relationships, a unique spring-loaded interlocking relationship between the top ring 15 and the bottom ring 16 is provided by means of an interlock spring 40 (FIG. 3) which is inserted within a pair of positioning tabs 23 formed on the bottom ring 16 in opposed relationship. An extending finger 42 of the interlock spring 40 is yieldably engaged in the detents 44 (only one shown in FIG. 2), formed in the top cutter ring 15.

The interlock spring extending finger 42, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, is formed in the interlock spring by bending the same slightly downwardly in order to present an angled face 46. The angled face upon contacting the upper ring detents 44 permits the same to rotate in one direction, clockwise as illustrated in FIG. 2, and yet resists turning in a counterclockwise direction. In this manner, the user of the variable cut dicer-slicer is in a position to adjust the sequential cutting of foodstuffs in a uniform manner.

As will he observed in FIG. 4, the interlock spring 40 fits within a pocket 48 within the positioning tabs 23. The extending finger 42 extends beyond the upper surface 52 of the top of the bottom ring and thereby presents the positioning extending finger 42 for contact with the detents 44. The interlock spring 40 is held in place by means of a detent 54 which is placed in the outer wall 56 of the position tabs 23, as diagrammatically illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 4.

The interlock spring is not intended to completely secure the top ring against the bottom, as such will occur naturally by gravity, and is not disturbed by the dynamic action of the foodstuffs being passed through the cutting blades. Rather it is intended that the interlock spring will secure the same in a snug relationship when properly positioned in accordance with positions 1, 2, and 3 as indicated on the rotating tabs 35, as well as in the locking position. The small portion of the extending finger 42 which extends outwardly from the pocket front opening 58, is suflicient to accomplish this two-fold purpose of constraining against rotation in one direction, and holding in position so that the blades will properly engage the fingers (not shown) on the pusher head as the same descends through the foodstuffs and strips the same from the blades.

In positioning the cutter ring assembly 14 with the variable cut dicer-slicer 10, the bottom cutter ring 16 is first properly oriented within the circular support portion 21 formed at the upper end of the base 11 by engaging the offset locking lugs on the ring within the locking slots formed in the peripheral edge of the circular suppoit portion 21. Next, the upper cutter ring 15 is positioned over the cutter ring 16 by aligning the ring safety interlock 36 with the front positioning tab 23 of the bottom ring 16 and exerting a slight downward force on the ring to engage the extending fingers 42 of the interlock springs in the detents 44 formed in the top ring 15. In this position, the pusher head 12 cannot be completely depressed since the offset lug 17 formed thereon will engage the ring safety interlock 36, and hence the blades are protected from damage.

To position the cutter rings 15, 16 to make one or the other of the many different cuts, the upper cutter ring 15 is positioned relative to the bottom cutter ring 16 by gripping the numbered turning tabs 35 and rotating the same in a clockwise direction to correspondingly adjust the position of the blades. Proper positioning is indicated by the engagement of the extending fingers 42 in the detents 44. When so positioned, the pusher head 12 can be completely depressed to force foodstuffs through the cutting blades.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in a vegetable cutter, an assembly of juxtaposed annular rings with a plurality of parallel blades in each, comprising a base ring, a flat upper surface on said base ring, a top ring having a flat bottom surface, opposed locating tabs on one of said rings extending beyond its flat surface, detents in the periphery of the other ring, means defining a spring pocket in the opposed locating tabs, second means defining an opening of said pocket facing the periphery of said other ring, and a leaf spring insertable in the pockets formed to present an extending knob to fit within the top ring detents, the spring shaped and fitted within the pocket to retract in one direction of rotation of the top ring and not retract in the opposite direction thereby insuring rotation of the top ring in a single direction.

2. For use in a vegetable cutter, an assembly of juxtaposed annular rings with a plurality of parallel blades in each, comprising a base ring, a fiat upper surface on said base ring, a top ring having a flat bottom surface, opposed locating tabs on the bottom ring extending upwardly from its top flat surface, detents in the periphery of the top ring, means'defining a spring pocket in the opposed locating tabs, second means defining opening of said pocket facing the periphery of the top ring, and a leaf spring insertable in the pockets formed to present an extending knob to fit within the top ring detents, the spring being C shaped and fitted within the pocket to retract in one direction of rotation of the top ring and not retract in the opposite direction thereby insuring rotation of the top ring in a single direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/42 Bakewell 146169 7/47 Myers 146-169 

1. FOR USE IN VEGETABLE CUTTER, AN ASSEMBLY OF JUXTAPOSED ANNULAR RINGS WITH A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL BLADES IN EACH, COMPRISING A BASE RING, A FLAT UPPER SURFACE ON SAID BASE RING, A TOP RING HAVING A FLAT BOTTOM SURFACE, OPPOSED LOCATING TABS ON ONE OF SAID RINGS EXTENDING BEYOND ITS FLAT SURFACE, DETENTS IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE OTHER RING, MEANS DEFINING A SPRING POCKET IN THE OPPOSED LOCATING TABS, SECOND MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING OF SAID POCKET FACING THE PERIPHERY OF SAID OTHER RING, AND A LEAF SPRING INSERTABLE IN THE POCKETS FORMED TO PRESENT AN EXTENDING KNOB TO FIT WITHIN THE TOP RING DETENTS, THE SPRING SHAPED AND FITTED WITHIN THE POCKET TO RETRACT IN ONE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE TOP RING AND NOT RETRACT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THEREBY INSURING ROTATION OF THE TOP RING IN A SINGLE DIRECTION. 